can someone please list the advantages and disadvantages of commerical radioisotopes? i can't seem to find them in the books i use in enough detail, nor do i have them in my notes. thanks in advance.
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Commercial Radioisotopes (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter rnitya_25
- Start date
rama_v
Active Member
hehe this is the same as in chemistry
advantages
- can destroy bacteria in food through irradiation more completely than other processes
- non-invasive, e.g. when your detecting structural faults in aeroplanes using americium-241 or cobalt-60 or some other isotope. It allows faults and hairline, microscopic fractures to be quickly detected - this is also a cheaper method than physically breaking apart the aeroplane and examining it.
- in rolling processes it can be used 'on the fly' so to speak, to mantain a certain thickness of metals.
Disadvantages
- nuclear reactors are needed to make radioisotopes. This results in radioactive nuclear wastes beign produiced which are difficult to store - represent an environmental hazard.
- they emit radiation so therefore safety precautions are necessary, suhc as limiting a worker's exposure, using photographic film badges to gauge the dosage of radiation received etc.
- hard to transport safely
advantages
- can destroy bacteria in food through irradiation more completely than other processes
- non-invasive, e.g. when your detecting structural faults in aeroplanes using americium-241 or cobalt-60 or some other isotope. It allows faults and hairline, microscopic fractures to be quickly detected - this is also a cheaper method than physically breaking apart the aeroplane and examining it.
- in rolling processes it can be used 'on the fly' so to speak, to mantain a certain thickness of metals.
Disadvantages
- nuclear reactors are needed to make radioisotopes. This results in radioactive nuclear wastes beign produiced which are difficult to store - represent an environmental hazard.
- they emit radiation so therefore safety precautions are necessary, suhc as limiting a worker's exposure, using photographic film badges to gauge the dosage of radiation received etc.
- hard to transport safely